WBO Jr. Lightweight champion Mikey Garcia has vacated his title with an eye in moving up two divisions to Jr. Welterweight according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
According to the report, he is embroiled in a dispute with promoter Top Rank, which he is suing, was due to face Salido in a mandatory fight. But with no plans to fight anytime soon and Garcia also facing problems getting down to 130 pounds, he vacated.
Garcia sent the WBO a letter letting the organization know about his decision, according to WBO president Paco Valcarcel.
Valcarcel told ESPN.com that the organization and Garcia have been in regular contact “because he was supposed to fight Salido, as per our interim requirements. His response was that he was unable to defend it because he has trouble making weight and wished to move to 140. Finally, they asked [that] we rank him at that division.”
Garcia dropped the title instead of fighting a rematch with interim champion Orlando Salido.
“It’s disappointing that Mickey left 130 because Orlando still believes he had unfinished business with Mickey. But he is happy to look forward to 2015 and fighting the biggest names at 130 pounds,” Sean Gibbons, Salido’s manager, told ESPN.com.
